30 Fake Dating Romance Books Full of Chaos, Charm, and Chemistry
If you adore romance that starts with a lie, spirals into longing, and ends with two people wondering how on earth they ever thought their “totally fake” chemistry wasn’t real, welcome to the irresistibly chaotic world of fake dating romance books. These stories serve up all the best tropes: questionable agreements, public hand‑holding, forced proximity, jealous rivals, and that moment when one of them catches feelings and absolutely panics. Expect sparkling banter, comedic mishaps, swoony tension, and emotional reveals that hit harder because neither of them planned any of this. Whether you love celebrity‑civilian setups, workplace cover stories, or two friends pretending a little too well, this guide rounds up the most deliciously messy fake‑to‑real romances worth obsessing over.
Explore Stories Where Faking It Leads Straight to Forever
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
If they start by pretending, can they end with something real?
Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.
So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help.
But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high-society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful.
She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?
Beg Me by Adriana Locke
Markie St. James is officially done with men.
Unfortunately, she needs one to defend her pickleball championship title against her cheating ex-boyfriend.
Her solution comes in the form of Jory Plath, her brother’s best friend, a single dad, and a professional rugby player. He’ll help her defend her title if she helps tutor his son.
It’s a simple arrangement. Everybody wins... Until they don’t.
Somewhere between practices, late nights, and giving the town something to gossip about, Markie and Jory go from pickleball partners to fake dating. And the more time she spends with him, the more she realizes he’s exactly the kind of man she swore off.
Now she’s not sure what’s worse—losing her title, losing the man, or losing her heart.
It's About Time by Harlow James
Pretending to be engaged to my enemy might not be my brightest idea. But it is definitely necessary.
On the brink of the biggest car show of my career, I start to panic because it’s the first time I have to see my ex since our break-up. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t clean or amicable.
Then when Elliot Thorne’s ex-fiancé shows back up in town, I devise a plan for both of us to get what we want: a buffer from our exes with a dash of revenge.
The problem is Elliot takes his role to protect me too seriously. He brings me food while I’m working to make sure I eat. He even silences the self-doubt I feel on a day-to-day basis.
And before I know it, he has me on my knees in my garage, and on my back on the hood of my car.
The hate I’ve harbored toward him melts away as fast as my panties, and I soon realize we have more in common than I thought.
Then he tells me a secret that makes me reevaluate our entire relationship. Now I’m left to consider if something fake could be real…
And that maybe it’s about time I admit that Elliot isn’t my enemy after all.
Flow by Tia Louise
He’s loved her since childhood; one fake date might finally make it real.
I was 15 years old when I stood on a hill in a peach orchard with the girl of my dreams, contemplating marriage.
Now I’m a hockey star, The Maverick Murphy.
I have flow on the ice and on my head, but I still have trouble forming sentences when she’s around. And she’s all around—living in my house, sharing my space, so close, I can smell her perfume on my clothes.
I’m all grown up, and I’d still do anything for her.
I was 15 when I stood on a hill in my family’s peach orchard with the cutest boy I knew and said I’d marry him on the spot. Now that boy is a grown man, a hockey star with muscles and dimples and smoldering hazel eyes. He’s also my new roommate, but I’m not here to fall in love. Our beloved peach trees are dying, and I’m here to find a cure.
When the town’s rich bully threatens to own our land and me along with it, I kind of snap. I kind of say Maverick’s mine for real. It’s a lie. We’re only faking, but with every kiss, every touch, every stolen moment, reality starts to blur.
Still, as much as we want to pretend, he’s LA’s hockey champion, and when the semester ends, I’ll have to leave.
That’s reality.
Fire and Ice by Carly Robyn
One fake relationship, a delicious dash of chemistry, and a recipe that's bound to get messy.
Kennedy Caplan bakes the best cakes in town, but taking her business to the next level requires more than butter and grit. She’s determined to turn her dreams into something bigger, even if the odds—and her bank account—are stacked against her.
Cameron Davies, NHL goalie and resident grump, has perfected the art of shutting people out. He’s content with his small circle, until life throws him off balance: a toxic ex back in town, teammates who won’t stop hovering, and a spotlight that refuses to dim.
His solution is as practical as it is risky: a fake relationship with Kennedy—his sister’s friend and the one person he can’t seem to ignore. The arrangement gives her business the financial investment it desperately needs, and provides Cameron a buffer from his ex and overprotective teammates.
But what begins as a strategic arrangement soon blurs into late-night calls and sparks neither of them can deny. And the more they lean into the lie, they’re forced to face the question they’ve both been avoiding: what if this isn’t fake anymore?
Peaks and Promises by Claire Kingsley
Summer Lewis can’t catch a break. An overworked single mom, she’s struggling to make ends meet. The one bright spot is her favorite customer at the diner where she works—the big, tattooed Reese.
But the dark spot in Summer’s life threatens to blot out the sun. Her ex is a member of a notorious motorcycle club, and they refuse to leave her alone.
Reese Haven hasn’t been home in almost two decades. Burdened by the weight of his mistakes, he’s convinced he can’t return. Instead, he uses his skills for good—protecting clients through his private security business.
When Summer’s dangerous ex shows up, she turns to her friend, Reese. She has no choice but to disappear, and Reese knows exactly where he can take her.
Tilikum. His hometown.
Reese makes the agonizing decision to return home, bringing a fake family with him. He’ll stick it out until he’s sure they’re safe, then they’ll go their separate ways. He can’t possibly stay.
But pretending to be married turns out to be more complicated than either of them anticipate. As tensions mount and lines blur, their relationship begins to feel all too real.
And when the threat to Summer and her son returns, Reese will risk everything—even his life—to keep them safe.
Twilight Tides by Samantha Young
When I escaped to a Scottish island, I never expected I’d agree to a marriage of convenience with rugged local businessman and single dad, Murray Shaw.
That was before my dangerous ex started threatening me and my visa. The thought of being kicked out of Scotland, leaving behind my friends and the safety I’ve found here, is unthinkable. I’m determined to solve the problem myself. Everyone knows Murray is battling his ex-wife for control of his company and the only way to stop her is to remarry. So I propose a marriage deal that’ll solve both our issues. The fact that I’ve been attracted to the handsome, gentle giant of a Scot since we met is something I’ll just have to ignore if I want to remain in Scotland.
But marriage to Murray is proving to be complicated. Living under the same roof is a far bigger temptation than I anticipated. Beneath Murray’s reserve is a passionate nature that stokes the fires of my own. Soon we’re fighting a searing attraction and an intense emotional connection that’s as thrilling as it is terrifying. After my last disastrous relationship, I don’t trust myself enough to admit there’s far more than physical desire between us.
Yet when Murray finds himself caught in the grasp of a criminal organization intent on using his business for their own means, just as my ex decides to intensify his harassment, I realize there’s no denying that what I feel for my husband is a life-changing kind of love.
However, just as I begin to trust myself enough to give our marriage a real chance, danger rushes to our shore on rough tides, submerging us in a battle that might tear us apart forever…
Gathering Storms by Lex Martin
After losing my apartment and librarian job in the same week, I’ve hit rock bottom. That’s the only reason I consider Jace Walker’s offer to be his toddler’s nanny while he goes on a national tour.
I don’t even like the man. But he recently had a baby he didn’t know about dumped on his doorstep, and for once in his charmed life, he’s as desperate as I am.
The plan seems simple—until his label says only spouses can join the tour. And Jace Walker, it turns out, would rather lose the chance of a lifetime than leave his daughter behind.
So when he asks if I’d consider marrying him, I know exactly what I am: His last resort.
I agree to his four-month marriage, convinced he’ll never tempt me. Besides, he’s too charming, too handsome, too talented to look twice at a bookworm. I have walls up for good reasons.
Except life on the road with this rugged cowboy has other plans—bandmates who resent me, his conniving ex who joins the tour, and a deranged fan who leaves us creepy gifts.
And nothing prepares me for Jace himself. The man underneath the charm. The father who’d give up everything for his daughter. The one who makes me feel things I buried a long time ago—and the storm building between us reminds me exactly why I buried them.
The Hotshot by Piper Rayne
Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan. Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.
One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.
Enter Hayes Carlisle. My best friend’s older brother. Chicago Colts newest catcher. And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.
So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.
But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea. Because he remembers how to make me laugh. Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake. Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories. Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.
I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids. But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?
That might be the one thing I can’t do.
Off the Record by Sara Goodman Confino
In 1962, opportunities are typically few for nice Jewish girls clacking away at ninety words per minute in a newspaper typing pool.
Except Judy Greenberg isn’t typical. An aspiring reporter in DC, she’s aiming for journalistic greatness—not finding a husband. Just don’t tell her mother.
Then one day she answers her boss’s private line. The message is curiously cryptic. It’s also delivered in a Russian accent. Judy is certain she has stumbled upon a scoop.
Charming reporter Jack Fields isn’t one to dismiss Judy’s instincts. Perfect. A seasoned ally she can trust, not to mention pass off as a pretend boyfriend around her relieved parents.
Together, they’re following the leads—from a clandestine hotel bar to the dressing room of a slinky Cuban nightclub singer to an exhilarating underground of secrets and spies stretching from Moscow to Havana to Texas.
Now Judy must choose between the safe life expected of her or one hell of a dangerous story that could make her career. She might even fall in love for real. If her ambitions don’t get her killed.
Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen
Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked admin to a hockey team, she’s seen it all.
But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine.
Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right?
But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial.
Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out.
It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?
The Mr & Mrs Mistake by Brighton Walsh
When Willa Jameson stumbled into my bar drunk, heartbroken, and desperate to save her family farm, I offered to marry her. For “convenience.”
Which is hilarious, because nothing about my attraction to this hurricane with hips has ever been convenient.
Now we’re sharing a roof, a bed, and a potential felony thanks to our fake marriage.
It’s supposed to be a favor between not-quite-friends-but-not-quite-enemies. Then our late-night arguments turn into practice make out sessions.
But according to her, that changes absolutely nothing between us.
No matter how many lines we draw, we keep crossing them—in the kitchen, on the porch, in the tiny bed that’s become both heaven and hell.
And the woman who swears she hates me starts looking at me like I might be exactly what she needs.
She calls me her temporary husband. I call her my daily torture, because every day we play house, it feels less like pretending and more like home.
When this ends, I don’t know how I’m going to forget what it felt like to call her mine. So either I walk away with her, or I don’t walk away at all.
Tracked by Rebecca Sharp
To infiltrate a wilderness retreat and find her missing sister, she must pose as the girlfriend of a rugged survivalist. The problem? He’s her sister’s ex, and the man she’s always desired. The danger? Their pretend passion is turning real.
When ER doctor Lara Crane’s sister vanishes in the Wyoming wilderness, she turns to the one man with the skills to find her—the one man she shouldn’t want. Professional tracker Calder Stone is her sister’s ex-boyfriend and the forbidden attraction Lara has buried for twelve years.
For Calder, a survivalist who lives by control and careful rules, Lara has always been the exception. Their search leads to a remote couples-only retreat hiding deadly secrets. The only way in? Pose as lovers. But in the intimate confines of their undercover charade, pretending reveals a desire that’s dangerously real.
As they uncover the sinister truth behind the retreat—and her sister’s disappearance—someone will kill to keep it buried. Trapped in a wilderness where danger lurks behind every tree and their forbidden desire ignites with every stolen touch, Lara and Calder must risk it all to survive. Including their hearts.
Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen
Roslyn and Liam met nine years ago and have been the perfect couple ever since. Through every up and down, every milestone—from Liam’s residency to the publication of Roslyn’s debut romance—they’ve been each other’s rock. Until now.
Pulled apart by the untimely death of Roslyn’s mom and the undertow of grief, they’re now navigating the final wave in their marriage: divorce.
Heartbroken and unsure how to tell her family she’s called it quits with everyone’s favorite son-in-law, Roslyn keeps the impending split to herself. But when Roslyn’s grandparents ask if Liam can officiate their vow renewal ceremony aboard a Hawaiian cruise during their annual vacation, Roslyn needs to tell the truth or figure out a way to keep her secret. A week trapped at sea with her ex isn’t ideal, but neither Roslyn nor Liam want to rock the boat, so they concoct a plan—they’ll fake it.
After five years of marriage, they can figure out how to pretend for jungle hikes and mai tais, right? But when reality and make believe starts to blur, and old feelings begin to resurface, Roslyn and Liam have to decide whether it’s sink or swim for their marriage.
Crooked by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
The last thing I needed was a live-in bodyguard. And I definitely didn’t want him. Six foot two, with broad shoulders that were impossible to ignore and a talent for getting in my way, Wes Callahan was a walking bad decision.
But when you’re the daughter of a notorious mob boss, apparently your opinions stop mattering the moment your father ignites another war. I’d spent my entire life trying to escape that crooked world—new name, new city, newfound freedom. At least until I was suddenly shacked up with my new bodyguard.
Wes knew exactly how to push my buttons. He was also infuriatingly protective. And smart. And funny. And thoughtful when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. Little by little, the walls I’d built started to crack, and falling for the bodyguard became the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done. Because if my father found out, Wes wouldn’t just lose his job. He’d lose his life.
Getting involved with him was reckless, yet I couldn’t find a way to stop it, no matter how hard I tried. But while I was busy losing my heart, the man who took it was hiding a secret.
And it turned out, the most dangerous man in my life wasn’t my father after all—it was the one who threatened to break my heart.
No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows
Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.
Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.
If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.
The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.
She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.
Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn
They're faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real?
Graydon St. John doesn't do drama―or public appearances. The brooding defensive end for football team the San Francisco Foghorns prefers silence, solitude, and avoiding headlines. But when a league-wide PR scandal forces him into a media stunt at the city zoo, he's suddenly face-to-face with squawking birds, nosy fans, and the zookeeper who seems to hate his guts on sight.
Maple Baker loves her flamingos. Loud, pink, messy? Sure. But they're hers. And the last thing she needs is a grumpy football player stomping into her sanctuary with a bad attitude and a bigger ego. Unfortunately, they've been paired for the zoo's new public outreach program, and the cameras are already rolling.
The banter is sharp. The tension is electric. And the more they pretend to play nice for the press, the more their fake flirtation starts to feel like something dangerously real.
But when family secrets, viral fame, and a PR romance gone off-script threaten everything Maple's worked for, Graydon must decide if he's willing to fight for love―or let it slip away to protect her.
A Summer of Stars by Liana Cincotti
Fake relationship terms and conditions: do not fall in love.
After a messy breakup, it feels like the entire world hates tennis superstar Luna Aldridge. With her reputation ruined and her career at risk, the only way to repair it is a PR stunt: fake-dating Hollywood’s golden boy, Kieran Alexander.
There’s just one problem ... Luna can’t stand him.
For Kieran, the feeling is mutual. He’s about to lead a big-screen love story, but his dating history is jeopardizing the film’s success. His team believes the world needs to see him wildly in love. And who better than Luna, the person he loathes most?
Soon, Luna and Kieran spend the summer posing for cameras, sharing red carpets and flying around the world for the tennis circuit.
But the more they pretend, the more they question if they can keep their hearts, and their careers, together. Especially with everyone watching …
Pretty Desperate by Lacey Black
Jillian
They say when one door closes another one opens, right? When the door closed on my marriage, I was fortunate to follow a new dream. One that led me to opening my own bakery in downtown Pine Village. It hasn’t been easy, especially in the offseason, but I make it work. I’m content. Happy. Then Kameron Markley showed up on my doorstep, begging me to be his fake girlfriend. It seems like such a simple plan, especially when we’re both getting something out of it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before lines are blurred and crossed, and suddenly, the relationship doesn’t feel so fake after all.
Kameron
For the last decade, I’ve poured my heart and soul into my restaurant, turning a small-town space into a top steak house. The building beside mine has been sitting for as long as I can remember, and the owner is finally ready to sell. The only problem is, she thinks it needs to go to a family man. Suddenly, I’m desperate. That’s when I come up with the wild idea to find a fake girlfriend. Jillian Kirby fits the bill to a T, and with a little negotiation, we’re able to work out a deal where we both come out ahead. What I wasn’t expecting was it being so easy to be around her. Suddenly, the lie we’re telling does feel like it’s so right. I want it to be real.
Try Me by Adriana Locke
“Try me.” That’s what Drake Bennett said when I declared on my live podcast that no man could make me fall in love. The former pro football star turned sportscaster didn’t just laugh—he challenged my entire brand.
Gianna Knows Things is built on the idea that love is a choice. Drake says it’s a feeling—a magical, uncontrollable, world-shifting experience.
I call BS. He says I’m scared. The audacity.
So, we make a bet. Six weeks of dating … in front of millions of listeners. If I don’t fall for him, I win. If I do … don’t worry. Not going to happen.
I expected spicy nights and viral ratings. What I didn’t expect was thoughtful surprises, spontaneous affection, and moments that make my heart do strange things.
Drake isn’t who I thought he was, and I can’t tell what scares me more: that he’s been playing me all along or that I’m wrong about love. Either way, someone’s about to get hurt—and I hope it's not me.
Sweet Addiction by Bella Matthews
Rome Beneventi is a walking, talking bad decision—six feet, five inches of tattoos, temptation, and trouble wrapped in a smirk and dipped in sin. This MMA champion should come with a warning label . . . or at the very least a disclaimer.
I sell books, and he breaks bones. We are not on the same page. At least not until he discovers my secret and instead of keeping it, blackmails me into fake dating him.
Now I’m living in his house. Lying to my family and friends. Playing nice for the cameras. And trying not to melt every time he calls me “baby” like it’s more than a show.
I told myself I’d never fall for him. That I was too smart to love the devil in designer clothes. But the thing about enemies? Sometimes they’re the only ones who see you clearly.
And faking it with Rome Beneventi? Yeah... it stopped feeling fake a long time ago.
Oliver by Kyra Fox
She needs a fake boyfriend. He needs a cover story. But with a past this complicated, they can only pretend for so long.
Oliver Beck is a man with sharp edges, deep secrets, and one rule: never get involved.
Until he walks into a café and finds Zahra Nazarian—the girl who shattered him over ten years ago—sitting across the table. She needs a fake boyfriend. He’s hellbent on revenge.
Neither of them is ready for the moment their fake relationship stops feeling like business—and starts looking like forever.
But with an obsessive ex, family betrayal, and a mountain of secrets between them, their second chance looks less like love written in the stars… and more like an asteroid on a collision course.
Poppy Kisses by Marie Johnston
I need a husband. Jensen needs a business makeover. A marriage of convenience should solve both our problems.
Moving back to Coal Haven should have been simple—start my tutoring business, settle into the historic house my grandmother left me, and move on from my past.
But there’s a catch: I can’t claim the house unless I’m married.
Jensen Hollis. My childhood rival. The guy I spent years trying to outdo. The one who married our mutual friend while I watched from the sidelines.
Now he’s divorced, a single dad, and—somehow—my only option.
It’s a perfect arrangement. A temporary marriage. One year with no feelings involved. At least, that was the plan… until playing house starts to feel a little too real.
The Grump Next Door by Brighton Walsh
Our first kiss was a lie. Our second was a mistake. And the night we spent tangled up in each other? Hot as hell but a complete disaster. Because now Sutton Sinclair—the sharp-tongued troublemaker who left claw marks down my back and a dent in my self-control—is living in my backyard cottage with her teenage daughter. And I’m her goddamn landlord.
I like things quiet. Controlled. She's neither. Sutton’s chaos wrapped in sunshine, a temptation in scrubs I can’t seem to stay away from. When her ex shows up acting like Sutton’s still his to lose, I claim her on instinct. The kiss? Hot. The fallout? Immediate.
Now my family—and the entire town—thinks we’re a couple. Fake dating Sutton wasn’t in my playbook, but if being a pro-footballer turned high school coach has taught me anything, it’s how to pivot. All I have to do is keep my hands to myself.
Then her cottage floods. Now we’re sharing a roof…and a bed. The line between real and fake is blurring faster than I can redo the guest house. This is supposed to be temporary. But Sutton doesn’t just crash into my life—she rewrites it. She’s in my home, moaning my name, breaking every rule I’ve ever lived by.
And I’m starting to want something permanent with the woman who’s already got one foot out the door.
Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Growing up, Dani couldn’t help but follow around the adorable son of her mom’s best friend. Funny, kind of nerdy, and a little soft, Alec was always down to hang with Dani when they were little. From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable. Until Dani moved away. Alec promised they’d stay in touch—except, they didn’t.
Flash forward and Dani is back in Minnesota for her senior year, she and her mom living with her grandfather. Dealing with the fallout of her parents’ devastating divorce, Dani wouldn’t mind a nerd-out with the cozy and comforting Alec (and maybe a chance to confront him on his MIA status for all these years). But teenage Alec is nothing like the kid Dani remembers. He’s a hockey star in a town where hockey players are worshiped as gods. Dani’s place as his shadow has been taken up by drooling female fans…and he loves it.
Dani is resolved to ice out her former best friend until an unlikely series of events brings them together—and forces them to fake being a couple. Once forced together, the former childhood sweethearts begin to reconnect, unearth complicated family secrets, and face their true feelings towards each other…including the real reason Alec has been pushing Dani away all these years.
Role Play by Kay Cove
She wanted to write a bestseller. She wasn't ready for the plot twist.
Being an indie romance author was supposed to be a dream come true. But after publishing umpteen books, I still haven’t “made it” and now I’m just waiting for the dark cloak of insignificance to completely snuff out my career. I decide to roll the dice on a marketing guru who swears he can yank me out of obscurity. But after a frantic search for “book boyfriend material” and an unexpected bar encounter, I accidentally blow my entire budget on an escort.
Forrest is a charming single dad by day and hotter-than-sin escort by night. But before I can fire him and ask for a refund, he reminds me how I got here in the first place… I’m in desperate need of inspiration. He might be a walking red flag, but Forrest is ready to be my muse, which means spending the next three months helping me “research” my next bestseller. (Hey, I’m manifesting here.) Our game plan? Act out all the romance novel tropes that make a bingeable love story: brooding billionaires, masked men, cowboys in small towns, and even swoon-worthy green flags.
Forrest plays all the book boyfriend parts perfectly. So perfectly I’m starting to wonder if his feelings for me might be real, or if he’s just earning his paycheck. I’m not sure if I’m trying to write a love story or live one out.
After all, there is no such thing as happily ever after with a professional escort…right?
Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer
The only way to get my inheritance? Marry Alexei Volkov—the grumpiest enforcer in the NHL, a brutally handsome jerk, and the last man I’d ever fall for.
In public, we act as besotted newlyweds, but in private, we’re at each other’s throats. He’s competitive, arrogant, and surly. The guy’s never cracked a smile in his life. He’s jealous of my colleague, glares at my high heels, and insists he’s not attracted to me. He’s only marrying me for citizenship.
Fighting with Alexei is more fun than expected, though, and beneath his grouchy exterior, Alexei is surprisingly caring, protective, and generous.
He cooks for me and worries about my safety. He sends me flowers with secret meanings and spends way too much money on me. He makes me sleep in his bed and calls me his wife.
For a guy who said he’d never fall in love with me, Alexei’s doing a good impression of it… and now I’m wondering if this marriage is fake after all.
Bridesmaid by Chance by Meghan Quinn
When a chance at being a bridesmaid turns into a chance at being the bride . . . how could she possibly refuse?
Hudson Hopper is in some trouble. After doing his business partner a favour by hiring his younger sister, Sloane, as his assistant, Hudson very quickly finds out that she is a massive distraction.
But when Sloane is asked to fill in as a bridesmaid for another of Hudson's business partners, she comes up with an equal trade. She'll be a part of the regency-themed wedding - corset and all - if Hudson marries her.
Sloane knows the value of the trade: he needs her, and she needs his wedding ring to get her into a high-society club and further her career.
It's an instant no from Hudson at first, but when she convinces him that no one will find out - including her brother - and that he will certainly benefit from the marriage too . . . well, Hudson suddenly finds himself saying 'I do.'
The Hookup Situation by Lyra Parish
When my ex strolls back into town looking good enough to ruin my life twice and claiming he wants me back, I panic and blurt out that I’m seeing someone.
The only man available is Nick Banks, the ex-hockey star with a smirk that should be illegal and commitment issues as legendary as his abs. Surprisingly, he agrees to play along if I help him figure out why his relationships keep going up in flames.
We make rules: fake date without feelings, trade relationship advice, and hook up. For research purposes only. Obviously. It’s a temporary arrangement, with the goal of becoming better partners for whoever comes next in our lives.
But the snuggles get cozier and the kisses last longer. Lines blur, and I can’t tell what’s pretend and what’s real. We’re having fun, fooling everyone in my small town—and maybe ourselves too.
Then the paparazzi snap pictures of us, and the gossip sites explode. Now I’m fake-dating a billionaire in the headlines while falling for him in real life. And the only thing more terrifying than the spotlight is losing him when autumn ends.
Trust Me Always by Meagan Brandy
I loathe the day I ran smack dab into the hard chest of Alister Howl, Avix University's second-string quarterback. The moment he smiled my way, I should've run. And, well, I did…straight into his bed.
That was before I learned he was nothing but a liar. He ruined everything before it even began. Unfortunately for me, he takes my dismissal as a challenge and comes back twice as hard. I didn't think it would work, but the man's relentless, and now I'm wavering when I'm not so sure I should.
How can I be with him if I can't trust him? And that right there is exactly how I end up at a party, locking lips with the campus playboy and ultimate bachelor, Brady freaking Lancaster.
One second, I'm hiding from Alister in some sorority house, and the next…I'm "Brady's girl."
I have no idea how it happened or where things go from here.
But one thing is for sure, fake dating one football player while his teammate tries to win me back is going to be one hell of a ride…
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